Apparatus for playing sports-related, table and floor games

Abstract

Apparatus for playing sports-related, table and floor games includes a single sheet of material having a front surface layer defining a smooth exposed playing surface and a rear surface layer, and defines left and right center panels, a spine panel section arranged therebetween, left and right side panel sections connected to the left and right center panels respectively, and left and right longitudinal edge panels connected to the left and right side panel sections, respectively. Cuts extend through the front and rear surface layers in lateral edge portions between the longitudinal edge panels and adjacent side panel sections, and separation lines are present between the panels and panel sections to enable the panels and panel sections to pivot relative to one another to allow folding. A stabilizing structure forms walls perpendicular to the smooth playing surface to provide a playing structure. Game accessories associated with the sheet enable game-play.

1. A portable apparatus for playing sports-related games, table games and floor games, comprising:
 a single sheet of material comprising a front surface layer, a rear surface layer and a plurality of connected panels, said front surface layer having a smooth exposed surface on which the game is played,
 said panels including a left center panel, a right center panel, a spine panel section arranged between said left and right center panels, a left side panel section connected to said left center panel, a right side panel section connected to said right center panel, a left longitudinal edge panel connected to said left side panel section and a right longitudinal edge panel connected to said right side panel section, 
 each of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section, said right side panel section, said left longitudinal edge panel and said right longitudinal edge panel having a main body portion and lateral edge portions on opposite sides of said main body portion, 
 said sheet including cuts extending through both said front and rear surface layers in said lateral edge portions between said left longitudinal edge panel and said left side panel section, between said right longitudinal edge panel and said right side panel section, between said left longitudinal edge panel and said left side panel section and between said right longitudinal edge panel and said right side panel section, 
 said sheet further including separation lines between said panels and panel sections to enable said panels and panel sections to pivot relative to any adjacent panels; and 
 
 a stabilizing structure that causes walls perpendicular to said main body portion to be formed from said sheet and maintains said walls in positions perpendicular to said main body portion, said stabilizing structure being arranged to retain said longitudinal edge portions in a position perpendicular to said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, and also maintain said lateral edge portions of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section in a position perpendicular to said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, such that said walls are formed by said longitudinal edge portions and said lateral edge portions of said sheet; and 
 at least one game accessory formed integral with or removably attached to said sheet to enable playing of a game, said at least one accessory being related to the game, 
 wherein said stabilizing structure causes said walls to be formed and thereby enables said sheet to assume a three-dimensional state in which the game is playable using the sheet, said walls preventing movable objects used in the game from leaving the smooth playing surface. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing structure comprises an attachment mechanism arranged on said front surface of said sheet and said rear surface of said sheet. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing structure comprises a first attachment part arranged in an area on said front surface of said sheet in said lateral edge portions of said longitudinal edge panels and a second, mating attachment part arranged in an area on said rear surface of said sheet in said lateral edge portions of said left and right side panel sections along edges adjacent said left and right longitudinal edge panels. 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one accessory comprises a decal formed integral with said sheet. 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment mechanism for removably attaching said at least one accessory to said sheet. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said attachment mechanism comprises one of hook and loop fasteners arranged on said front surface of said sheet and the other of hook and loop fasteners arranged on said at least one accessory. 
   
   
     7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a hole formed in said sheet and a peg arranged on said at least one accessory. 
   
   
     8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separation lines constitutes cuts in said rear planar layer. 
   
   
     9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separation lines constitutes a crushed, elongate portion of said rear planar layer which is melted onto said front planar layer. 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front planar layer includes fold lines formed opposite said separation lines. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said fold lines are partially cut through said rear planar layer. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sheet is formed from opposed substantially planar layers of material connected by parallel ribs to define cavities. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising attachment means for maintaining said sheet in a folded, compact configuration with planar surfaces of said panels facing one another. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment system that maintains said sheet in a folded, compact configuration with planar surfaces of said panels facing one another. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separation lines include fold lines between said longitudinal edge portions and said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, said stabilizing structure being arranged to form said walls from said longitudinal edge portions and perpendicular to said main body portion by maintaining said longitudinal edge portions in a folded state about said fold lines which allows for flat folding of the apparatus. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separation lines include fold lines between said lateral edge portions and said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, said stabilizing structure being arranged to form said walls from said lateral edge portions and perpendicular to said main body portion by maintaining said lateral edge portions in a folded state about said fold lines which allows for flat folding of the apparatus. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said separation lines include:
 first fold lines between said longitudinal edge portions and said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, said stabilizing structure being arranged to form said walls from said longitudinal edge portions and perpendicular to said main body portion by maintaining said longitudinal edge portions in a folded state about said first fold lines which allows for flat folding of the apparatus; and 
 second fold lines between said lateral edge portions and said main body portion of said left center panel, said right center panel, said spine panel section, said left side panel section and said right side panel section, said stabilizing structure being arranged to form said walls from said lateral edge portions and perpendicular to said main body portion by maintaining said lateral edge portions in a folded state about said second fold lines which allows for flat folding of the apparatus. 
 
   
   
     18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing structure is fixed to said sheet. 
   
   
     19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing structure comprises first and second mating arrangement, both of which are arranged on said sheet so that when mating, said stabilizing structure causes said walls to form and when not mating, said sheet can assume a planar form. 
   
   
     20. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stabilizing structure is arranged to have a first condition in which it causes said walls to form when said sheet is in an unfolded state and a second condition in which it is folded together with said sheet while said sheet has a substantially planar form.